Transmedia Goes To Hollywood: Blacklight Transmedia

Just read on Deadline that Brian Grazer's Imagine Entertainment has doled out it's first ever first-look deal in the company's history to...drumroll please....Blacklight Transmedia.  Blacklight, started by former execs from Fox Atomic and in partnership with video game production company Zombie Studios, has about 20 IP creations in the pipeline.

This is the first transmedia-branded partnership in Hollywood that I'm aware of.  It differs from efforts surrounding known brands such as Pirates of the Carribean in that its does not focus on a product or franchise.  The concepts--such as Blacklight and Kingpin--have been built from the ground up.  It will be interesting to see how this well-funded enterprise will differ from other independent and pioneering efforts from creators like Lance Weiler and Douglas Rushkoff.  How deeply will the stories infiltrate the population-at-large?  Will it attract more than just fanboys and fangirls?  Which projects will Imagine elect to pick up?  Will each title be able to sustain itself monetarily?  Will they feel as organic as other transmedia efforts or will they come off as trite, like most other Hollywood products?  If this deal goes well, it could mean the birth of endless opportunities for content creators, producers, graphic artists, engineers, developers, actors, etc.  My only fear is that the transmedia industry will end up much the same way as the American independent film industry--an overflow of creativity and new talent that, with the appropriation of the Indie brand by Hollywood, slowed to a dribble.

Overheard in the Office...

--"So what are we calling these videos...virals?

--"Only if they're successful!"

Damn The Man: The Coco Show

I usually don't use this blog to comment on the nastier parts of this business, such as the current late-night war of the worlds going on at NBC.  However, Conan's handling of Jeff Zucker's brainless bulldozing has been so hilariously feisty (and effective!) that it would be a shame not to post Conan's craigslist ad.  I've attached a screen shot because I can't imagine the powers-that-be at NBC will allow this to stay up much longer.  Go Conan go Conan go!

New Year, New MEdia

Happy New Year Readers!

This is my first post of 2010, and what I hope will turn out to be a banner year, both personally and professionally. My two main resolutions for "Twenty-Ten" are to get the media project I've been developing over the last couple months off the ground (stay tuned for more!) and to work with and learn from as many different projects, producers, directors, executives, technicians, programmers, developers as I can. Here's to hoping this is the year when both the entertainment industry and my career start to see some real gains!

In other news, here is something awesome from 2009 I just stumbled upon: Joss Whedon's $10K bid to bankrupt owners of Terminator franchise:

An Open Letter to the Terminator Owners.  From a Very Important Hollywood Mogul


Dear Sirs/Ma'ams,

I am Joss Whedon, the mastermind behind Titan A.E., Parenthood (not the movie) (or the new series) (or the one where 'hood' was capitalized 'cause it was a pun), and myriad other legendary tales. I have heard through the 'grapevine' that the Terminator franchise is for sale, and I am prepared to make a pre-emptive bid RIGHT NOW to wrap this dealio up. This is not a joke, this is not a scam, this is not available on TV. I will write a check TODAY for $10,000, and viola! Terminator off your hands.

No, you didn't miscount. That's four -- FOUR! -- zeroes after that one. That's to show you I mean business. And I mean show business. Nikki Finke says the Terminator concept is played. Well, here's what I have to say to Nikki Finke: you are a fine journalist and please don't ever notice me. The Terminator story is as formative and important in our culture -- and my pretend play -- as any I can think of. It's far from over. And before you Terminator-Owners (I have trouble remembering names) rush to cash that sweet cheque, let me give you a taste of what I could do with that franchise:

1) Terminator... of the Rings! Yeah, what if he time-travelled TOO far... back to when there was dragons and wizards? (I think it was the Dark Ages.) Hasta La Vista, Boramir! Cool, huh? "Now you gonna be Gandalf the Red!" RRRRIP! But then he totally helps, because he's a cyborg and he doesn't give a s#&% about the ring -- it has no power over him! And he can carry it AND Frodo AND Sam AND f@%& up some orcs while he's doing it. This stuff just comes to me. I mean it. (I will also offer $10,000 for the Lord of the Rings franchise).

2) More Glau. Hey. There's a reason they're called "Summer" movies.

3) Can you say... musical? Well don't. Even I know that's an awful idea.

4) Christian Bale's John Connor will get a throat lozenge. This will also help his Batwork (ten grand for that franchise too, btw.)

5) More porn. John Connor never told Kyle Reese this, but his main objective in going to the past was to get some. What if there's a lot of future-babies that have to be made? Cue wah-wah pedal guitar -- and dollar signs!

6) The movies will stop getting less cool.

Okay. There's more -- this brain don't quit! (though it has occasionally been fired) -- but I think you get my drift. I really believe the Terminator franchise has only begun to plumb the depths of questioning the human condition during awesome stunts, and I'd like to shepherd it through the next phase. The money is there, but more importantly, the heart is there. But more importantly, money. Think about it. End this bloody bidding war before it begins, and put the Terminator in the hands of someone who watched the first one more than any other movie in college, including "Song of Norway" (no current franchise offer).

Sincerely, Joss Whedon.